Michelle: I know we've talked in the past and there's always so many different things going on with metrology, but what have you kind of seen for trends in metrology right now?

Justin: This isn't terribly recent, but I see it accelerating for sure. The equipment keeps getting smaller and more compact. I'm seeing more applications where we're integrating it into the manufacturing workflow. It's just a passive system, just always on, linked up with automation really well.

And or it's also getting more accessible to users. So, I'm seeing more small machine shops or even medium-sized manufacturing outfits bringing metrology in-house instead of hiring out specialized groups to do it. So I know I see more and more of the vendors I work with where they have their own metrology group now as opposed to having to bring in help or asking us for help.

Alongside of that, there's a big push for training and education for people that are now either an operator, learning multiple jobs, or a company is hiring a bunch of new fresh engineers to take on the role of a metrologist. So, understanding the finer points of uncertainty and traceability and how to use this equipment and how to best use the equipment is becoming more and more important.

Michelle: And since you've been in the field such a long time, does it seem like there's some kind of waves of interest in metrology or do people kind of understand it more or getting kind of better at using it or anything like that?

Justin: I would say definitely. The interest around what it's becoming less of this black magic box that laser data goes into and numbers come out of.

People are getting a lot smarter about what the tech is and what it's capable of and ultimately how it's going to help their business. So I'm seeing more business owners and upper to middle level managers get a better understanding of how powerful it can be for their business and that, yes, it's a big investment, but at the same time that investment pays off in dollars and cents at the end of the day when you have a better product going out the door and so there's a lot of interest in, as I said, bringing that tech in-house.

Then there's times I'm sitting down at the table with customers that have a really solid understanding of what the tech can do, what it's capable of, and what they need to have happen in their area, which is great. I think that's nothing but good for the industry.